California State University’s 22 campuses, along with public institutions in other states across the country, are piloting shortened bachelor’s degrees. Here, students study in a library on the campus of California State University, Long Beach in Long Beach, California, in October, 2012.

The Quiet Redesign of the Bachelor’s Degree

by Bruno V. Manno July 29, 2026August 10, 2026

Amid millions carrying some college credit and no bachelor’s degree, the lines between community college, four-year institutions, and even high schools are blurring. How to make this brave new world even better.

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The Quiet Redesign of the Bachelor’s Degree

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